Opinion | Socialist China's new democracy and the unveiling of its institutional reform draft plan
By Augustus K. Yeung
INTRODUCTION
Critics and cynics who have been harshly criticizing China's National Committee members as "voting machines" are in for a slap on the face: China has just unveiled a draft plan for the biggest reorganization of State Council departments in five years as part of its broader efforts to bolster self-reliance in science and technology, enhance financial oversight and protect intellectual property rights, etc.
The draft plan on the institutional reform of the State Council, dubbed "the war time cabinet" is meant to assist the nation to navigate its deteriorating external political landscape, which is becoming unfriendly and uncooperative, and harsher and more hostile than ever.
China must be self-reliant and global economic stabilizer.
Meanwhile, the US and its EU allies seeks expansion of military pressure in the Asia-Pacific region and put international pressures on China in a variety of situations, the Ukraine conflict included, China's external development environment is changing drastically. And the burden on the shoulders of the 14th CPPCC National Committee members over the next five years is expected to be even heavier than before.
The country must develop new competitive advantages to maintain, solidify and strengthen its position in the global value, industry, and supply chains through various reforms in the face of the United States' ever-increasing containment, bullying and decoupling efforts.
What's going on in Beijing now is an all-important event that is being closely watched by observers all over the world. One reason for this cautious watchfulness is that Xi Jinping has just been given an unprecedented third term in office; he has hand-picked a few of his future colleagues known for their expertise in science and technology, etc.
How Consultative Democracy Works and Serves the Progress of the Nation
The new leadership of the country's top advisory body for the next five years will be elected at the ongoing First Plenary Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultation Conference.
Over the past five years, the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC has faithfully fulfilled its duties. About 24,000 out of the more than 29,000 proposals on various fields of the country's social, economic, political and cultural lives it received have been adopted and put forward to the central authorities for reference in making decisions, laws and policies.
In the process, the top political advisory body of the country, which consists of more than 2,000 members, mostly professionals and experts from all walks of life, has taken full advantage of the expertise of its nine special committees that cover all the key areas of the country's development to provide the decision-makers with pragmatic suggestions.
These special committees' candid, constructive and sometimes fierce debates over specific topics, such as emissions reduction, poverty alleviation and rural vitalization, the digital economy and the aging society, are reflections of how consultative democracy, an important part of the whole-process people's democracy of China, works and serves the progress of the nation.
The members of the CPPCC National Committee do not speak for a particular vested interest group – such as an industry, a political or a certain corporation as is so often the case in many Western countries – but for the people.
China Has to Develop New Advantages to Strengthen its Position in the Face of the United States' Bullying and Decoupling Efforts
As the external development for the country is changing drastically, the burdens on the shoulders of the 14th CPPCC National Committee members over the next five years will be even heavier than before. The country must develop new competitive advantages to maintain and strengthen its position in the global value, industry and supply chains through reforms in the face of the United States' containment…
Facing such a challenge and fast-changing situation, the new CPPCC National Committee, as a treasure trove of specialist knowledge and experience as well as a key connection between the authorities and the public, most dutifully shoulder its responsibilities to help the nation make the most of what it must adapt to the new normal.
For example, the political advisers need to shorten the time it takes to form proposals from months to weeks or even days, without compromising the quality to ensure the timeliness of their proposals, which must reflect the actual conditions of the problem they want to resolve.
Furthermore, they should take the initiative to focus on the most pressing bottleneck issues in their respect fields. Their research should be forward-looking and problem-oriented, but not pure endorsement of policies that have already proved a success.
There should also be a more stringent performance evaluation system that encourage them to devote themselves to providing the best advice possible. Their post by no means represents an honorary title – but rather a tremendous responsibility to serve the nation and meet the heavy trust of the people. (Source: MDT/China Daily)
CONCLUSION
If an unmanned Chinese civilian balloon over the airspace of the United States can be so politicized, met with military might and mauled by a missile, the Western world that China is facing must be very hostile. This is not all.
Last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during an interview (after meeting US President Joe Biden and the Bucharest Nine leaders in Warsaw) alarmed the world by saying, "NATO sees 'some signs' China could back Russia's war".
A couple of months ago, NATO war planes were flying over to South Korea, suggesting that the Americans are putting great pressures on every possible ally it can get hold of – to harass China anywhere and everywhere.
By now It is crystal clear that China needs to have an updated, expanded State Council (dubbed a "war time cabinet"), a new national top management team, giving the General Secretary a solid support. And the new members of the National Committee are concomitantly expected to be fine-tuned to become more committed, critical and answerable to their various regional constituents across China.
The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
Read more articles by Augustus K. Yeung:
Opinion | Binding China-Indonesia ties: Best mirror for Marcos of the Philippines
Comment